Card table



Oct. 1, 1940. GOODMAN 2,216,171

CARD TABLE Filed June 7, 1938 lNVENTOR fizz/BEN E. GOOD/4A N ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 1, 194i) PATENT OFFICE 2.216171? 3 can!) TAB-LE Reiiben E. mama-rotten; Application June 7, 1938, Serial No. 212,250

The present invention relates to folding tables, and more particularly to card tablesl l It is an object of the present invention to improve upon table constructions of the above-described character, to the ends that their efficiency and beauty may be enhanced without sacrifice of strength, at the same time lessening their cost of production. Other objects will be explained hereinafter and will be particularl pointed out inthe appended claims. i

The invention will now beexplained in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig; 1 is a fragmentary'pl'an of a card table constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a section taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Card tables of the type improved upon by the present invention may comprise a table top having a top portion 2, usually of thin wood or cardboard and the like, secured to a rectangular framework, constituted of four side cleats 20. The cleats are rabbeted at 1 to receive the margins of the table top portion 2, which may be stapled or otherwise secured to the rabbeted portion 1. The top portion 2 is usually further supported by additional reinforcing bars (not illustrated) spanning oppositely disposed cleats.

A covering 4 of fabric, paper or any other material suitable for the covering of card tables is cemented to and stretched tightly over the upper surface of the wood or cardboard top portion 2 and over the top and the upper portion of the outer edge of each cleat, with its edges secured in longitudinally disposed grooves 25 of the cleats 20.

The table is customarily supported by four legs (not shown) that are pivoted to the underside of the table, one at each corner of the table top, the legs being parallel to the respective four sides of the table, when folded. The legs fold from a position in which they are extended, so as to support the table top, to a position in which they are collapsed so as to be out of the way when the table is not in use. The table may, however, be supported in any other way, as by means of legs or other supports at the center of the table.

According to the present invention, the grooves 25 are disposed neither vertically nor horizontally in the cleats 20; they are inclined, as shown, with the incline extending from the outer edge of each cleat, at Ill, inward toward the inner edge of the corresponding cleat. Because they are inclined, it is possible to position the grooves 25 very near to the tops of the cleats 2D, with a 4Claims. (o1; g n-10s only very small portions 6 of the wood between the upper edges 8 of the cleats and the grooves 252: If it were attempted to position the grooves horizontally so high up on the table cleats 20, the corresponding portions 6 of the wood would be 5 so small that they would readily break away. Not only is strength thus imparted to the table, but the remaining outer surface of each cleat 20, between the outer edge l0 of the groove 25 and the bottom edge I 2 of the cleat is almost of as 10 great extent as the original width dimension of thezcleat. A large area is thus provided for ornamentation M on the outer edges of the cleats. This ornamentation [4 may be of various kinds, such as striping or finishing of the outer sur- 15 face of the cleats in lacquer or paint. The fact that the inclined groove 25 is so close to the top of the table, therefore, permits ornamenting also the balance of the frame of the table top, thus adding greatly to the appearance of the table go iteslf. Not only is the fabric, paper or other covering 4 thus positioned considerably higher up on the cleats, according to the present invention, but all the advantages of the side-groove tables are obtained without any of the disadvantages 25 of the vertical groove. It is easier, moreover, to manufacture the inclinedly-grooved cleat than the horizontally-grooved cleat; the inclinedlygrooved cleats are, in fact, produced, in finished form, at the mill, ready for assembly into the 30 card table. The assembly with the fabric, paper or other covering 4, furthermore, is effected much more easily than with the horizontal groove, in full view of the operator, so that he can see what he is doing, by rolling the covering 35 material 4 into the inclined groove 25 with an upholstering tool, which further lessens the cost of manufacture.

As in the case of the side-groove tables heretofore proposed, each portion 6' of each cleat is positioned along the vertical dotted line l8, which is inset a little with respect to the vertical dotted line l6, representing the outside vertical surfaces of the remainder of the cleat. That portion of the covering material 4 that extends over the 45 upper portion of the outer edge of each cleat, therefore, becomes inset by a distance corresponding to that between the lines I6 and I8, so as to provide a space in which the covering material 4 rests when the table is disposed on 50 its edge, when not in use. With the relatively large portions 6 of the table that are necessary to be employed in the side-groove constructions, tipping of the table results in the edge of the cover 4 becoming scratched. With so small a 65 portion 6 of each cleat covered by the covering 4 at the top and the upper portion of the outer edge of each cleat, however, all danger from that score is eliminated. The table may, therefore, be placed on edge, with no ill efiects to the minimum outside portion of the covering exposed between the lines it and I8, caused by scratching or wearing against the floor, or on an easel stand, a scenic bridge table, and so on. Card tables of the above-described character are often stood on edge as a scenic bridge table, for decoration purposes.

Not only does this table have the described utility, but it has also the advantage of appearance, with an unbroken top surface, to which the appellation streamlined has appropriately been given.

Modifications may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A table having, in combination, a frame comprising cleats each having a longitudinally disposed groove inclinedly extending inward from its outer edge, a table top portion supported by the frame, and a covering stretched over the top portion and over the top and the upper portion of the outer edge of each cleat and secured in the grooves.

' 2. A table having, in combination, a frame having rabbeted cleats each having an inner edge and an outer edge, each cleat being provided with a longitudinally disposed groove inclinedly extending from its outer edge near its top inward toward its inner edge, a table top portion supported by the cleats with the margins thereof received in the rabbeted portions of the cleats, and a covering stretched over the top portion and over the top and the upper portion of the outer edge of each cleat and. secured in the grooves.

3. In a folding table of the type having a foursided frame provided with four table legs pivoted at the corners of the frame so as to fold, each side of the frame being provided with a longitudinally disposed groove inclinedly extending from its outer edge, a table top portion supported by the frame, and a covering stretched over the top portion and over the top and the upper portion of the outer edge of each side of the frame and secured in the grooves, the portion of each side of the frame along its upper outer edge that is covered by the covering being very slightly inset from the remaining portion of the outer edge of the corresponding side of the frame.

4. A table having, in combination, a frame provided with a longitudinally disposed groove inclinedly extending inward from its outer edge, a table top portion supported by the frame, and a covering stretched over the top portion and over the top and the upper portion of the outer edge of the frame and secured in the grooves.

REUBEN E. GOODMAN. 

